Are the Irish sides going to dominate the Celtic League?

First topic message reminder :

Since 2003 are honors are
Irish = 4 H-cups, 4 Celtic leagues 5 runners up, and 2 Celtic Cups
Welsh = 1 Almin cup 4 Celtic League, 2 runners up,

While it is 4 titles apiece , the Ospreys won 3 of the Welsh ones and could be argued to be the only Welsh side competing on a level as the 3 main Irish teams.

Last season for games between Irish and Welsh teams it was

Irish Sides 22
Draws 1
Welsh Sides 10

That is some difference, especially seeing as Connacht are the weakest of the 8 teams.

This season so far is

Ireland 8
Wales 2

Therefore its fair to conclude that this disparity between Welsh and Irish teams is set to continue.



Last year it was an Irish 1, 2, 3 and over the summer the transfers the Irish teams are bringing in were of a better standard to what was bought into Wales. Both Welsh and Irish acadamies are producing quality players.
Even the weakest Irish team Connacht, are greatly improved, over the last year.

It appears that the Irish teams with the IRFU investment, sponsorship deals and generally higher crowds are financially better off than there Welsh counterparts, which could lead to more of a gap (the Welsh teams do get WRU funding and have their own sponsorship deals but these seam to be for less).

My question is are the Irish teams beginging to pull away from the Welsh regions, or are the regions just in a rebuilding phase, and when its complete they will come back and be equally as strong as the Provinces?

Fair play Wayne Im glad to hear it.

I think the World Cup will hit the Welsh teams harder than the Irish.

The Irish teams are longer established and therefore better supported and and better off financially which gives them better strength in depth.

I think they have a few more experienced over seas players too = Nacewa is keeping Leinster ticking over.

I think Leinster have been savaged by the World Cup in all honesty munkian. Missing all their first choice players from 6-13 plus their two first choice props, their Captain and lineout general and their first choice fullback. They have good strength and depth but thats pretty much the entire core of their squad.

They may have a great fullback in Nacewa but any team is going to find it hard when they are missing their entire backrow, halfbacks and centres.

And the injuries, don't forget the injuries...

I think the Dragons are the worst hit team in terms of wcup call ups and injuries,

Ok Leinster are missing loads more, but they have better strength in depth than anyone else in the league

Dragons just don't have the squad to cope.

ie. if Leinster are missing 3 players at internation level, they have 3 players to step in that are Celtic league level.
If Dragons miss 2 players they have maybe one Celtic League level player and one Welsh prem level palyer to step in

therefore even missing less players than some others the level of the team drops further than others.

Leinster are really streched at present, Dragons are at (or just beyond) breaking point at present